In recent years, gaming laptops have gotten so powerful. Desktop PCs are now unnecessary for most people: variable refresh rate screens and desktop-class central processing units. And even mechanical keyboards are now standard on most gaming laptops; however, throughout this history of improvements, a simple accessory known as the MUX switch. That has been the subject of more discussion than high-refresh-rate screens or ray-traced images. It’s a perk that lets your gaming laptop take advantage of discrete graphics instead of integrated ones. So you get a noticeable performance boost almost instantly. The MUX switch has quickly become an essential component of any laptop intended for gaming. With nearly all critics recommending it. So how exactly does a MUX switch function, and should you be looking for one for your subsequent laptop acquisition? In this article, we will describe what a MUX switch is and how it works.
Video Output Selector (MUX) Switch for Gaming Laptops: An Explanation (2022)
From its origins to its operation, the MUX switch is a fascinating device that will be dissected in detail here. We’ll also address many concerns shared by PC enthusiasts everywhere. Such as determining whether your portable computer is equipped with a multiplexer (MUX). If so, how do I flip the MUX switch on? The goal is to provide essential information about the MUX switch. So you can evaluate its merits and drawbacks with confidence.
Where can I learn more about laptop MUX switches?
Understanding what a MUX switch is before delving into its intriguing past is essential. The MUX, which stands for “Multiplexer,” is only a switch that lets laptop owners select—using the integrated graphics processing unit (GPU; also known as Optimum/hybrid mode). And the dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU). The MUX switch is implemented in modern gaming laptops as a separate microprocessor and is located between the integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) and the discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU).
For those of you who aren’t up to speed on laptop jargon. An integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) and a discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU). Are two kinds of graphics processors that could be present in your device. The integrated GPU (iGPU) is the graphics processing unit. That shares silicon die with the central processing unit. It’s a less powerful graphics processor, but it gets things done like streaming video and executing the graphical user interface of the operating system. Take a look at https://perfectpcserver.com/ to gather more information about the MUX switch in gaming laptops. By contrast, the dGPU (dedicated graphics processor) is a full-fledged graphics chip (placed independently from the CPU) designed. To handle demanding jobs like gaming and video rendering. The iGPU is often a low-power chip, but the dGPU requires more juice to function.
Most modern gaming laptops include more than one graphics processing unit (GPU). And they typically work in tandem with one another. They are seamlessly switching between them to provide the best possible gameplay. However, due to the rising graphics capability of discrete GPUs, the iGPU is already becoming a limiting factor for the dGPU. The MUX switch of today is only an answer to this unusual predicament. The following section delves into the historical precedent, which is necessary to understand this phenomenon’s cause.
Overview of Re configurable Displays
The MUX switch has been examines, and we will discuss its fascinating development over time. It reminds me a lot of the myth of the Ouroboros. In the last few decades, we’ve seen it undergo several rebirths. Manufacturers’ present understanding of the MUX switch, while marketed as “modern,” is, in fact, somewhat dated.
You might be wondering why since the MUX switches are an outdated piece of technology. It is making a comeback at this particular time. In this part, we’ll look closely at this very thing. The problem is that modern MUX switches seem similar to their predecessors. They are far superior in functionality.
Sony’s VAIO SZ-110B, released in April 2006, was the first laptop to use a MUX switch. The concept is superficially similar, even though the laptop had a switch. When flipped, it altered the system’s display settings. However, the first-generation design was significantly more complex than modern MUX switches.
The problem was that most laptops at the time required not one but three different display adapters—one each. The LCD, VGA connector, and DVI/HDMI outputs. The ability to toggle among integrated & discrete graphics. They required various add-ons inside the motherboard to transport signals to and from the GPUs. The first fix, which involved installing MUX hardware, was time-consuming and costly. Because real circuits had to be altered, this technique also require a system restart whenever the user wanted to swap graphics.
Another issue in the early days of technology was that customers seldom experimented with other graphics processors. Sticking instead to the integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) or the dedicated graphics processing unit (dGPU) that came on their laptops. It can be challenging for those who aren’t tech-savvy to understand how this function operates. The result was that consumers in the market for laptops rarely purchased one equipped with a multiplex switch because of the perception that any tangible benefits did not justify the added cost.
As a result, during the subsequent several years. We witnessed the introduction of second-generation switchable graphics from laptop manufacturers. I was addressing this problem. The hardware switch was replace with software-controlled switches. It necessitates extensive software development for this version. In what way did they function, then? Manufacturers essentially built a “Display Driver Interposer.” A type of bridge that included data on both Graphics chipset drivers & dGPU drivers. That meant that it could switch between both the integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) and the discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU) just by switching the display profile in under ten seconds on your laptop.
NVIDIA Optimus Technology: What Is It?
With the trend toward switchable graphics in laptops. Nvidia introduced its implementation, dubbed “Optimus,” in 2010. The implementation was state-of-the-art. It effectively addressed all the issues that users faced with the previous generation.
Due to Nvidia Optimus, a hardware multiplexer and a software switch are no longer requires. In what way, you may well wonder? Simply put, Optimus sent all visual signals to the iGPU before deciding. Whether to use the dGPU / iGPU for each application. Optimus built an intelligent system capable of performing this procedure on the fly. Therefore the idea of a hardware MUX switch was rendered absolute.
The preceding diagram illustrates how Optimus enabled the computer. To select the optimal graphics solution based on the requirements of the active program. Suppose you have Microsoft Word open. For instance, it will use the iGPU and disable the dGPU entirely to save power. The display would be powered by the discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU) if a demanding program such as a game were being process.
Because this easy modification made motherboards with a dedicate graphics processing unit (GPU) feasible, the copper shielding and multiplexers that slowed down previous versions were no longer require. This also meant powering down displays was no longer necessary when updating the graphics driver. There was no longer any delay or stuttering during the refresh.
As a result, Nvidia Optimus was an option with few downsides. That means Nvidia’s approach was practically requires. Suppose a laptop maker wanted to incorporate a dedicated GPU in its products. Indeed, it turned out to be the case. When it relates to switchable graphics, Optimus has long since established itself as the industry standard. And it continues to enjoy widespread adoption, especially among cheap gaming laptops. In recent years, optimus have become standard on nearly every laptop with just an Nvidia GPU.
